I may not experience the target on my back, but I can fight it

SASHA-LEE WOLFSOHN

This year, there will be so many more layers to Youth Day. Being under lockdown may seem like an undeserved punishment to lots of people, but I don’t understand how that can be the case. Especially those of us who live in wealthier neighbourhoods and whose biggest concerns is finding something new to watch on Netflix and not being allowed to go to the beach.

I don’t understand because, for some people, lockdown has meant death at the hands of the South African Police Services and South African National Defence Force. Collins Khosa, Robyn Motsumi, and Sibusiso Amos are just three examples of black South Africans who died as a result of excessive force and brutality in the hands of those who we are supposed to protect us.

Who do you call when the police are the murderers? That question has been plaguing the entire world for just over two weeks since the death of George Floyd in America. For many people, the phrase “black lives matter” has felt like an attack. Certainly not for me.

As a Jewish person, I have an understanding of what it’s like for my people to be persecuted. But as a white person, I know that I will never experience the target-on-my-back sensation that people of colour have had for centuries. That doesn’t mean I can’t fight for their rights. Our people experienced similar circumstances in Nazi Germany, after all.

So, on 16 June 2020, I will be proud of my generation, and the generations that came before us. We stood up to those in power. We fought and protested. We brought about change. Lockdown won’t take that away from us. We are the generation that grew up surrounded by technology, in a globalised world.

My heart continues to break for the world – which seems to be as full of hate as it was 50 years ago – but I know that change is going to come.

“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” – Nelson Mandela

• Sasha-Lee Wolfsohn is in grade 12 at Herzlia.